Foothill Transit Seeks Cut

For the first time in its 15-year history, Foothill Transit is seeking to cut service because of persistent declines in ridership.

The agency, which runs 34 bus lines throughout the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, had beefed up service by nearly 20% during the last three years in anticipation of the region’s population growth. But instead, ridership fell steadily in that period, by 10%.

Agency officials have not been able to determine why ridership is dropping, nor why the rise in gasoline prices in recent months has not led to more passengers.

A passenger survey is pending, but the results will exclude former riders and their views, said Kevin McDonald, the agency’s deputy executive director.

In 2001, Foothill Transit carried 16.8 million passengers. This year, only 15.1 million passengers are projected. Some lines now have buses that carry fewer than five riders an hour, McDonald said.

The agency is seeking to scale back service by 3%, which would affect 18 routes.

“It’s being prudent,” said Foothill Transit Director John Fasana, who also sits on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board and is the mayor of Duarte. “With the last expansion, ridership didn’t grow.”

Former rider Robert Meinert of San Gabriel said he liked Foothill Transit’s service but stopped riding last year because his commute pattern changed.

“Their buses are clean, good air conditioning, pretty frequent,” he said. “Maybe they should market their lines more.”

Foothill Transit’s board will vote on the measure Friday, and Foothill’s governing council of elected officials representing 21 cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will vote May 5. If approved, the cuts would take effect in September.

To gather public feedback, the agency will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. today at 100 Barranca Ave., Suite 100, West Covina.